SINGAPORE — Former President S R Nathan was yesterday awarded The Order of Temasek (First Class) — Singapore’s highest honour given to a rare few — for his distinguished career in public service, which culminated in the presidency.

And speaking to reporters at his house in East Coast, Mr Nathan had these words of advice for public officers, in light of the recent bad press for the public service, following a spate of cases involving errant officers: “Do what you think is best, what you do best in good conscience and let things take care of themselves … There will always be noise, you cannot stop the chatter, so if you are going to pander to the chatter, you’ll never achieve anything.”

Mr Nathan, 89, who stepped down as President in 2011 after a 12-year tenure, said the advice was given to him after the Japanese Occupation by a British corporal and was based on a quote by former United States President Abraham Lincoln. He added: “If you are going to look at what people are going to say, you’ll never do anything, you have to do what you do with the belief of good intentions — we want to achieve it.”

Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office released the names of the National Day Honours recipients this year, with Mr Nathan topping the list.

Mr Nathan said he was “profoundly touched” by the honour. “I am overwhelmed by the honour ... and I am humbled at the same time,” he added. He said that after he received the good news from the Cabinet Secretary, he told his wife about it. “She felt I deserved it,” he said on his wife’s reaction.

Since stepping down as President, Mr Nathan has been keeping himself busy. Apart from being the patron of inter-religious organisations, he also works with the National Council of Social Service, a number of charities and schools.

After presiding over a dozen National Day parades, Mr Nathan said he was going to stay home and watch this year’s parade on television.

“They invited me to the parade but I can’t go because of my health, I can’t walk too much and there are too many steps, so I asked to be excused,” he said. “I think they have seen enough of me anyway,” he joked.

Mr Nathan joins other former heads of state Yusof Ishak and Wee Kim Wee as recipients of the highest civilian honour. To date, fewer than 10 people have been presented with the prestigious award, including former Deputy Prime Ministers Goh Keng Swee and S Rajaratnam, and former Chief Justice Yong Pung How.

Also on the National Day honour roll this year are Professor Wang Gungwu, 82, Chairman of the Institute of South-east Asian Studies Board of Trustees; Mr Tony Chew, 67, former Chairman of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore Governing Board; and Mrs Christina Ong, 65, National Parks Board Chairman.

The trio were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, given to individuals whose long service to the nation is marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct.

Prof Wang, who is also the Chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Governing Board, paid tribute to his colleagues. “When I heard that I was going to be honoured, I saw it as recognition for everyone I work with at the National University of Singapore and the Institute of South-east Asian Studies,” said Prof Wang.

Mr Chew, who is currently the Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation, said he was surprised and humbled to be given the honour. “The qualifying criteria for the Meritorious Service Medal is very high, and I am very much humbled to receive it. It is very special and meaningful,” said Mr Chew, who was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2001 and the Public Service Star in 2008.

This year, a total of 3,197 individuals will receive National Day honours, such as the Public Service Star, the Public Administration Medal and the Long Service Medal.